Live blog: Netanyahu speaks to Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is addressing a joint meeting of Congress at 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday to lobby for tougher sanctions against Iran. As you watch the speech, follow along here for live updates.

10 years - "blink of an eye" - Netanyahu says it is not good enough that under a nuclear deal Iran might be able to pursue the bomb in a decade. While that seems like a long time to a person, "It's the blink of an eye in the life of a nation," he says. Read what President Obama said about the ten year requirement HERE.

Netanyahu: "This deal won’t be a farewell to arms. It will be a farewell to arms control."

by zbyronwolf3/3/2015 4:37:50 PM

"Deplorable" treatment of Israel - Netanyahu's speech has not yet concluded but potential Republican presidential candidates are already reacting. Here's what former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's office just released... It goes a lot further criticizing President Obama than Netanyahu did:

“President Obama’s treatment of Israel is deplorable and a sad chapter in our bilateral relations. Congressional Republicans were right to invite Prime Minister Netanyahu to speak. Benjamin Netanyahu believes President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran is such a serious threat that he is willing to complicate his own relations with the Obama administration to speak to the American people and Congress about it. When we’re talking about the nuclear program of the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, I want more debate -- not less. I want Israel treated with the respect they deserve as our oldest and strongest democratic ally in the Middle East -- not like a problem to be managed.” -- Governor Rick Perry

by Alexandra.Jaffe3/3/2015 4:37:52 PM

Netanyahu argues there's no reason to believe Iran will change. "Why should Iran’s radical regime change for the better when it can enjoy the best of both worlds — aggression abroad, prosperity at home?"

Netanyahu's 3 requirements for Iran - Biggest applause line so far when Netanyahu tells Iran to stop being an aggressor against other Middle Eastern countries, stop supporting terror and to stop threatening the existence of Israel, "the one Jewish state."

On CNN right now, Sen. Dianne Feinstein is choosing her words very carefully. She said she'd like to see a 15 to 20 year timeframe during which Iran could not pursue a nuclear weapon. The White House has said they are looking at a ten year window. Netanyahu just said ten years is the "blink of an eye" for a nation. 15 or 20 years wouldn't be much more.

by zbyronwolf3/3/2015 5:06:38 PM

Fareed Zakaria is very complimentary of Netanyahu's speech, which he tells Wolf Blitzer combined "intelligence with emotional appeal." But, he says, Netanyahu doesn't provide a sense of an alternative. He just says the deal is a bad one.

by jedd.rosche3/3/2015 5:07:27 PM

More reaction, this time from White House ally David Axelrod tweeting: "Speech broke no new ground nor offered realistic path short of war. But apocalyptic language & GOP cheerleading tailor-made for his base."

by jedd.rosche3/3/2015 5:09:08 PM

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a potential 2016 Republican presidential hopeful tweets "I want #Israel treated with the respect they deserve -- not like a problem to be managed. bit.ly/1FS5fEU"

by zbyronwolf3/3/2015 5:10:23 PM

Here's more from Feinstein:

“It was a very powerful speech. I think it reinforced the very close Israeli-U.S. relationship.”

BUT, she added:

“He didn’t make a suggestion about what Israel would find agreeable.”

“There is no question as to what Iran has done, the terrible games its played, and that has got to stop”

“My preference is that it be a longer deal, and that there be a longer breakout time.”

by Eric Weisbrod, CNN3/3/2015 5:14:40 PM

Netanyahu: This is what the Iran deal should be

by zbyronwolf3/3/2015 5:14:46 PM

We'll start putting individual videos in here for people to go back and watch sections of the speech.

by Eric Weisbrod, CNN3/3/2015 5:15:12 PM

Netanyahu: U.S.- Israel alliance must be above politics

by Eric Weisbrod, CNN3/3/2015 5:15:45 PM

Netanyahu: Iran could get the bomb by keeping the deal

by Eric Weisbrod, CNN3/3/2015 5:15:54 PM

Netanyahu: Iran's founding document pledges 'death'

by Alexandra.Jaffe3/3/2015 5:18:01 PM

As of this afternoon, 58 Democrats had confirmed they were not attending Netanyahu's speech.www.cnn.com

It will be interesting to see what impact, if any, this has on Netanyahu's standing in the U.S. A Gallup poll out this week found his popularity has increased +10 points from 2012, to 45% of Americans viewing him favorably. But that improvement breaks down along party lines—Republican approval of the prime minister has increased more than Democratic approval:

The Obama administration disdain for the Netanyahu speech continues. CNN's Elise Labott reports that another senior administration official said, ""That was a very weak speech. He didn’t really articulate a coherent alternative."

by zbyronwolf3/3/2015 5:44:27 PM

Interested in learning more about what the nuclear deal with Iran could look like? (The nuclear deal Netanyahu says is so dangerous...) Here's Jim Sciutto's video breakdown:

by Alexandra.Jaffe3/3/2015 5:46:10 PM

A number of congressional Democrats are holding a press conference on Capitol Hill to respond to the speech right now. Rep. David Price (D-N.C.) said the way in which the invite was handled sets a “dangerous precedent” whereby congressional leaders from one party can invite international leaders to rebut a president in the House chamber.

“We not only tarnish the grand tradition of the joint session, we also run the risk of politicizing diplomatic relationships" by setting such a precedent, he says.

But he adds that “the speech has happened,” and “we must give new consideration to what the prime minister has said.”

by Eric Weisbrod, CNN3/3/2015 5:48:24 PM

From Jim Acosta... A senior administration official gives a point-by point rebuttal to the Netanyahu speech:

We are pursuing a deal that verifiably prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Where is the

alternative? Simply demanding that Iran completely capitulate is not a plan, nor would any country support us in that position. The Prime Minister offered no concrete action plan.

If setting back Iran’s nuclear program for at least a decade is the "blink of an eye," let’s beforthright in noting that this is far longer than any other option. Military action would set it back by a fraction of that time, at which point Iran would begin to rebuild its program and try to break out for a weapon. At the conclusion of a deal, Iran will be further away from a weapon than it is today, and we can make our own determination about how to move forward at that point.

Iran has repeatedly advanced its nuclear program even while under sanctions – the Joint Plan of Action that we reached in 2013 is the first thing that has stopped the progress of Iran’s program in almost a decade.So without a deal, Iran will certainly advance its program – installing advanced centrifuges, fueling its plutonium reactor, and reducing or eliminating its breakout timeline. That would leave us with the choice of accepting a nuclear-threshold Iran, or taking military action.

Prime Minister Netanyahu claims the one year breakout time envisioned in a deal is “too short”. The current breakout time is estimated to be 2-3 months. So the deal we are pursuing would succeed in extending the breakout timeline substantially, while also cutting off Iran’s different pathways to a weapon.

The logic of the Prime Minister’s speech is regime change, not a nuclear speech. How can he explain these contradictions: 1. Regime is powerful and unchanging 2. Regime has to change as pre-condition for a nuke deal 3. Regime is weak and vulnerable. Those don’t match.

We have been using – and continue to use – the pressure of sanctions to achieve a good deal.

We have been absolutely clear that the current negotiations are about preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. These negotiations are not an opening to a rapprochement with Iran.

The Administration does not “trust” the Iranian regime. That is why we are not “trusting” Iran to implement its commitments – we are insisting on unprecedented transparency and monitoringregime that would allow us to verify Iran’s compliance with its obligations, promptly detect any attempt to cheat or breakout, and respond appropriately.

“The unbreakable bonds between the United States and Israel are rooted in our shared values, ourcommon ideals and mutual interests. Ours is a deep and abiding friendship that will always reach beyond party.Americans stand shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people. The state of Israelstands as the greatest political achievement of the 20th century, and the United States will always have an unshakable commitment to Israel’s security.

“That is why, as one who values the U.S. – Israel relationship, and loves Israel, I was near tearsthroughout the Prime Minister’s speech – saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States as part of the P5 +1 nations, and saddened by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation.

“Today, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated something we all agree upon: a nuclear armed Iran isunacceptable to both our countries. We have all said that a bad deal is worse than no deal, and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons is the bedrock of our foreign policy and national security. As President Obama has said consistently, all options are on the table for preventing a nuclear-armedIran.”

by Alexandra.Jaffe3/3/2015 5:56:06 PM

A large number of Congressional Black Caucus members boycotted the speech out of solidarity with President Obama, but Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), chairman of the CBC, reaffirmed their support for Israel today."Israel has many friends in the Congresisonal Black Caucus, and do not think that Speaker Boehner’s move will interfere with our support," he said. Butterfield said, though, that "because I believe it was a politically-motivated invitation," he decided to watch the speech on television rather than attend.

by jedd.rosche3/3/2015 6:41:44 PM

We're wrapping up our live blog at this site, but for all your updates on politics and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, check out at CNNPolitics.com, follow us @cnnpolitics and Facebook.com/cnnpolitics. And check out this story for our latest reactions to today's speech here: cnn.it